Navigation device and navigation method

• US 8,560,226 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2009
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AutoNavigare LLC
• Original Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Inventors: Watarai, Norio, Hirai, Chiharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIPALA, EDWARD J
• Application Number:
  US12/626,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20100138150A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,420 Days
• Field of Search: 701/400, 701/408, 701/409, 701/410, 701/425, 701/426, 701/427, 701/428, 701/430, 701/431, 701/437, 701/438, 701/443, 701/446, 701/447, 701/454, 701/457, 701/461, 701/466, 701/467, 701/487, 701/488, 701/532, 701/533, 701/538, 340/988, 340/995.1, 340/995.14, 340/995.16, 340/995.18, 340/995.19, 340/995.2, 340/995.23, 340/995.24, 340/995.27
• US Class Current: 701/425
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3608 using speech input, e.g. using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence

Abstract

Provided is a technology of a navigation device which is capable of identifying an intersection or the like based on designation of an incomplete name of a street in which an input of a first keyword and an input of a second keyword are received, and a connection point of a first street having a street name which includes at least in part the first keyword and a second street having a street name which includes at least in part the second keyword is identified, to thereby save the user, who is not always familiar with the geography of a search target area, from the inconvenience of inputting a complete name of the first street, based on which the second street is retrieved and selected and an intersection point of the first street and the second street is identified.

Claims

1. A navigation device, comprising:

a storage unit adapted to store street name information and connection point information among streets;

a street identifying unit adapted to receive an input of a first keyword and an input of a second keyword and identifies, based on the street name information, a first street having a street name which includes at least in part the first keyword and a second street having a street name which includes at least in part the second keyword;

a connection point identifying unit adapted to identify, based on the connection point information, at least one connection point of the first street and the second street;

a search refinement condition receiving unit adapted to receive a third keyword as a condition for performing search refinement, in a case where a number of connection points identified by the connection point identifying unit is larger than a predetermined number;

a connection point search refining unit adapted to reduce the number of connection points identified by the connection point identifying unit to a number of connection points included in the third keyword; and

a connection point designation receiving unit adapted to receive one connection point designation of the connection points;

wherein the second keyword is input prior to identifying the second street.

2. A navigation device according to claim 1, further comprising a connection point designation receiving unit adapted to receive designation of a connection point, in a case where a plurality of connection points are identified by the connection point identifying unit.

3. A navigation device according to claim 1, comprising:

a present location identifying unit,

a route search unit adapted to retrieve a route connecting a present location identified by the present location identifying unit to the connection point of the first street and the second street; and

a route guidance unit adapted to provide guidance on the route retrieved.

4. A navigation device according to claim 3, wherein the street identifying unit receives the input of the first keyword and the input of the second keyword by voice.

5. A navigation device according to claim 3, further comprising:

a search refinement condition receiving unit adapted to receive information specifying a condition for performing search refinement, in a case where a number of the connection points of the first streets and the second streets is equal to or larger than a predetermined number; and

a connection point search refining unit adapted to reduce the number of the connection points by narrowing down the connection points to connection points belonging to a range matching the condition specified by the information received by the search refinement condition receiving unit.

6. A navigation device according to claim 5, wherein the street identifying unit receives the input of the first keyword and the input of the second keyword by voice.

7. A navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the street identifying unit receives the input of the first keyword and the input of the second keyword by voice.

8. A navigation method for a navigation device,

wherein the navigation device comprising the storage unit adapted to store street name information and connection point information among streets, and

the navigation method comprising:

a street identifying step of receiving an input of a first keyword and an input of a second keyword and identifying, based on the street name information, a first street having a street name which includes at least in part the first keyword and a second street having a street name which includes at least in part the second keyword;

a connection point identifying step of identifying, based on the connection point information, at least one connection point of the first street and the second street;

a search refinement condition step of receiving a third keyword as a condition for performing search refinement, in a case where a number of connection points identified by the connection point identifying step is larger than a predetermined number;

a connection point search refining step of reducing the number of connection points identified by the connection point identifying step to a number of connection points included in the third keyword; and

a connection point designation step of receiving one connection point designation of the connection points;

wherein the second keyword is input prior to identifying the second street.

9. A navigation method according to claim 8, further comprising a connection point designation receiving step of receiving designation of a connection point, in a case where a plurality of connection points are identified by the connection point identifying step.

10. A navigation method according to claim 8, wherein the street identifying step of receiving the input of the first keyword and the input of the second keyword by voice.

11. A navigation method according to claim 8, further executing:

a present location identifying step,

a route searching step of retrieving a route connecting a present location identified by the present location identifying step to the connection point of the first street and the second street; and

a route guiding step of providing guidance on the route retrieved.

12. A navigation method according to claim 11, wherein the street identifying step of receiving the input of the first keyword and the input of the second keyword by voice

13. A navigation method according to claim 11, executing:

a search refinement condition receiving step of receiving information specifying a condition for performing search refinement, in a case where a number of the connection points identified in the connection point identifying step is equal to or larger than a predetermined number; and

a connection point search refining step of reducing the number of the connection points by narrowing down the connection points to connection points belonging to a range matching the condition specified by the information received in the search refinement condition receiving step.

14. A navigation method according to claim 13, wherein the street identifying step of receiving the input of the first keyword and the input of the second keyword by voice.